beluga
UK[bɪˈluːɡə]US[bəˈluːɡə]
n
a small, white, toothed whale that lives in arctic and subarctic waters.
n
a large, white sturgeon found in the caspian and black seas, valued for its caviar.
Etymology
the word 'beluga' entered english in the late 16th century from russian 'belukha', which is derived from 'belyĭ', meaning "white". this russian term originally referred to the white whale, a cetacean native to arctic seas, whose distinctive pale coloration gave it its name. the term was later applied by association to the large, pale sturgeon, whose prized eggs are known as beluga caviar. the journey from a slavic color descriptor to the name for two distinct white animals demonstrates a straightforward semantic transfer based on a shared, prominent physical characteristic.
Analysis
this word is a direct loanword from russian, where it originally meant "white one". it is not productively formed from smaller english morphemes.
Examples
a pod of belugas was spotted near the mouth of the river.
beluga caviar is considered one of the most luxurious food items in the world.
the beluga whale is known for its highly expressive face and wide range of vocalizations.